Monty’s Log Cabin

Love Monty’s. Probably one of the enduring legends of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Go during happy hour during the week and meet Kitty — the best bartender ever! True old school locals are the clientele here and are usually willing to chat and be friendly. Outside is great and there’s endless paraphernalia to look at on the walls inside. Good jukebox, pool, and if you happen in on a special day, you might be treated to a cupcake or even a homemade buffet. Thanks Monty. Save a stool for me at the bar.

Love this place, great SLV bar. Cozy dive vibe inside, surprisingly nice outdoor seating area, good prices. And a good sized fire pit going every night! The only thing less than great is the pool table. I don’t mind old, but it’s pretty scratched and there’s maybe 2 decent cues.
Overall, one of my favorite bars in the county!

I love this place. The atmosphere, the bartenders, the crowd, the drinks, the music. Dog friendly. Super cool friendly locals. Monty is a great guy. Firepits outside.
Excellent good times.

«I love this bar, it’s my kind of place. Just walking through the front door, puts a big smile on my face. It ain’t too far, come as you are. Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, I love this bar…»

There is no place in the world quite like this place. From the first time I came here when I first moved to Felton, I knew this place was something special, much like the beautiful forest scenery it is surrounded by.
All the bartenders here are great folks, and pour generously, and create a fun, positive environment many bars lack. Prices are very cheap when compared to any other bar in neighboring Santa Cruz. I have never waited more than 2 minutes to get a drink here, even on the most crowded of nights.
Monty himself is there very often. He is an incredibly intelligent, witty, funny man full of many great stories. There are also many regulars from all walks of life that share this trait as well and makes for a night full of fun, and or intellectual discussions. These locals are very friendly and create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Out back, there is an old dryer converted into a fire pit which is usually burning wood starting in the evening until closing. Where most bars/​clubs are too loud to have any sort of conversation with strangers, out here I have met many great people traveling through town, or who have just moved into the area and a lot of them are really great friends now. Sometimes people even bring their guitars for a fun impromptu jam session reminiscent of my college days. The cliqueness you would encounter at most other places is virtually nonexistent.
You are totally encouraged to bring your dog as well, some of which are regulars too! If you are there on the weekend you may even get the chance to meet «Tequila», the snarky Macaw who is often there. There’s even a place out front to tie up your horse!
If you are a celiac like me, they have an excellent variety of gluten free options including various ciders, gluten free beer, and titos vodka and they will make absolutely sure you are taken care of.
The bottom line is, you haven’t experienced the Santa Cruz area until you’ve checked this place out!

Atmosphere: ³⁄₅
Service: ⁴⁄₅
Food: n/​a
Dive bar? Check. Dogs allowed? Check. $ 3 pints?!? CHECK! Monty’s is a gem of a dive bar near Henry Cowell State Park. $ 3 pints. Done.

Patio is dog ridden. Gross.
Music makes my skin crawl… in the best kind of way.
Pints are $ 3. Yes.

It’s Felton — of course the local bar is inside a log cabin! Open since 1936, it’s practically a piece of California history. Seems like some of the locals may have been going here since then, too! Definitely a dedicated following, judging from all the names on the billboard with birthdays that month.
Don’t let the dive bar stigma scare you, everyone from the bartender to the locals are super friendly and chill. And the place has it all: pool table, darts, outdoor seating, deer heads on the wall (with assorted brassieres decorating the antlers of course), plus lots of other really classy kitsch. My personal favorite is the sign reading: «what happens in the cabin, stays in the cabin.»
Most importantly the drinks are strong and reasonably priced (especially during happy hour). Come by on Sunday for free grub.
Bonus points for being dog friendly.

David Lynch? Hmmm. No, because there’s nothing scary about this place. Do you feel like you’re in a Coen Brother’s movie? Yes. There is a stuffed cat. The prices are low and the bartenders are funny and customer-​focused. I drank whiskey on the rocks and sat on the patio. It was nice to shoot the breeze with other folks who had their dogs with them. I have had their Bloody Mary’s and their Virgin Mary’s, both are top notch. I do NOT consider Monty’s a dive bar. Monty’s is the gem of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

I really like this place. Cozy and cute, charming and relaxing — perfect for winter. Bartender was quick and my beer was cold. Yes, it’s technically a dive, but it’s comfortable. Very popular (and dog friendly).

This is the first stop to every «hike». They let me bring in my pup, which is great. Pretty sweet local dive. Owner is down to earth and funny and makes a KILLER SPICY BLOODY MARY! I love this bar.

A nice log cabin bar, decent price for beer. Great bar tenders with plenty of knowledge of the bar and the area. A bit small for a bigger crowds but the feeling is a home away from home! Great place, I’ll definitely come again!

Step inside and meet the man on the sign. Monty’s there most nights and is a great host to regulars and strangers alike. Pretty easy to get a pool game going if that’s your bag or just hang outside by the fire pit. The rule on dogs is your pooch must get along with whatever hound is already inside. Always have a great time when I go. Be careful though; 20 bucks at Monty’s goes a long way and highway 9 can be a daunting road at any time of day.
PS Monty does not consider his place a dive bar. Please call it a «roadside tavern» or risk a lecture from Monty himself.

Perfect stop after a long hike at Henry Cowell. Stellar happy hour prices. Cute little dive bar. And although they say «no pets allowed» prominently on the door, my pooch was welcome on the laid back patio.
And they pour stiff.
Definitely my new little joint when I’m down in the Felton neck of the woods.

Great ambiance. Very friendly. Dogs in the outdoor patio area. Best bar in Felton.

As far as dive bars go, 5 stars here. After seeing two separate reviews mentioning the David Lynch feel here I had to come by and see for myself. It was actually was less creepy then one might suspect. Everyone we met here was very nice from the staff to patrons which were mostly locals but some tourists passing through.
The outdoor area is dog friendly and my boy loved it! I liked the fire pit outside too. Good prices on beers too, no gouging here.
Don’t be scurred homie, it’s Felton!

After reading about Monty’s for some time (and living in SoCal) I finally managed to get there on Christmas Day, taking my son-​in-​law with me. Lawdy, Lawdy, what a temple of wonderment… and with beer backs. My only negative note is that I wish there more options for sleeping nearby — dangerous to spend too much time at Monty’s and then drive down the mountain to SCruz. Oh well, life’s full of challenges and that’s one of the better ones. A classic.
Rev. B

Best local bar ever! Guinness on tap, great music, great folks.
We make a point of visiting here at least a few times a month.
Dog friendly too.

You haven’t experienced Felton until you’ve posted up at Montys Log Cabin bar. Super bartenders, pool table, in a real rustic cabin with plenty of taxidermy. There is an outside area which is awesome during the day for chilling in the sun with a cold beer, or at night while sitting by the fire pit chatting it up with other bar patrons. The bartenders are quick witted and always up for a good time. The locals have tons of great stories and are worth chatting up. Ladies room even has a padded toilet seat. Love it.
Plenty of parking out front or across the street.

I love this place! It’s reminiscent of a David Lynch film… where you can park your bike outside, or bring your dog in. The bartenders are cute & not stuck-​up, and the patrons are one-​of-​a-​kind. Leave your uptight ego at the door, and hang out with locals who know how to relax and have a good time.
…Just watch out for the one-​eyed jack! ;-)